Glyndŵr University lecturer celebrates Welsh Music Prize shortlisting

A musician who lectures at Wrexham Glyndŵr University is celebrating after his band were shortlisted for one of Wales’ most prestigious prizes. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Steffan Owens, Programme Leader on the University’s Sound Technology course, discovered yesterday that his band Seazoo were among the finalists in the Welsh Music Prize 2018. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Wrexham-based band’s latest album, Trunks, was released earlier this year to critical acclaim with the band’s ‘off-kilter indie pop’ being compared to Pavement, Grandaddy and Super Furry Animals – whose Gruff Rhys they are up against for this years’ prize. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Steffan said: “It’s been a great year for Seazoo and hearing we have been shortlisted for the Welsh Music Prize is yet another highlight. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“As a band, we’ve had really good support in the Welsh music industry this year– whether that’s securing radio play on the BBC or picking up gigs at festivals like Focus Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“That music industry experience really helps with my lecturing too. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Seazoo have actually played at the university already – we recorded a Glyndŵr TV session, where we play live and students record the performance – which helps them gain experience in using the latest in television and audio technology. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“As a university, we are regularly investing in new equipment – our recording studio was upgraded over the summer with a new Audient mixing desk. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s great, when showing students how to use industry-standard technology like that, that they know that the person teaching them is in a working band – of the kind who they’ll be dealing with when they graduate.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Welsh Music prize – now in its eighth year – will be announced on November 7. Alongside Seazoo, artists including the Manic Street Preachers, Gwenno, and Gruff Rhys. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Find out more about Glyndŵr’s BSc Hons Sound Technology course here: https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Undergraduatecourses/SoundTechnology/ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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